Toots and The Maytals are from Kingston, Jamaica. It was the producer Byron Lee who 1971 renamed them Toots & the Maytals. Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, the leader of the group and the lead singer, was born in May Pen in the Parish of Clarendon, Jamaica. He was the youngest of seven children. He grew up singing gospel music in a church choir, but moved to Kingston in 1961 at the age of sixteen.
In Kingston, he met Henry "Raleigh" Gordon and Nathaniel "Jerry" McCarthy, forming a group whose early recordings were attributed to "The Flames" and, possibly, "The Vikings". Having renamed the group the Maytals, the vocal trio recorded their first album, "Never Grow Old - presenting the Maytals", for producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd at Studio One in 1962-63. With musical backing from Dodd's house band, the legendary Skatalites, the Maytals' close-harmony gospel singing ensured instant success for the 1964 release, overshadowing Dodd's other up-and-coming gospel trio, The Wailers. The original album augmented by studio out-takes from the Studio One sessions was re-released by Heartbeat/Rounder Records in 1997, and is essential listening for Maytals and Skatalites fans.
After staying at Studio One for about two years, the group moved on to do sessions for Prince Buster (released in 1974) before recording their second album produced by Byron Lee in 1965. However, the band's musical career was rudely interrupted in late 1966 when Hibbert was arrested and imprisoned on drug possession charges.
Following Hibbert's release from jail towards the end of 1967, the band began working with Chinese-Jamaican producer Leslie Kong, a collaboration which produced three classic albums and a string of hits throughout the late sixties and early seventies -- "Do the Reggay", a 1968 single widely credited with coining the word "reggae", "Pressure Drop", "54-46" and "Monkey Man", the group's first international hit in 1970. The group was featured in one of reggae's greatest breakthrough events -- The Harder They Come, the 1972 film and soundtrack starring Jimmy Cliff.
Following Kong's death in 1971, the group continued to record with Kong's former sound engineer, Warwick Lyn; produced by Lyn and Chris Blackwell of Island Records, the group released three best-selling albums, and enjoyed international hits with Funky Kingston in 1973 and Reggae Got Soul in 1976.
Toots and the Maytals' compositions would be given a second airing in 1978-80 during the reggae-punk and ska revival period in the UK, when the Specials included "Monkey Man" on their 1979 debut album and the Clash produced their version of "Pressure Drop", with other Maytals' covers being recorded by Sublime. Having toured throughout the world for many years, Toots and the Maytals disbanded in the early 1980s, but reformed in the early 90s to continue touring and recording successfully.
In 2005, the band won a Grammy award for best reggae album for True Love, consisting of re-recorded versions of their classics alongside legendary musicians such as Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Eric Clapton, and Keith Richards, as well as popular artists such as No Doubt, Ben Harper, The Roots, and Shaggy.
They also contributed to the Easy Star All-Stars album 'Radiodread' (a dub tribute to Radiohead's OK Computer).
In 2016 Toots and the Maytals announced a return to the stage with their first tour in 3 years,[35] and on June 15 at The Observatory North Park in San Diego the group returned to the stage for the first time since 2013.
In 2017 Toots and the Maytals played Coachella Fest April 16 and 23 at 4:20 pm. They became the second reggae-based group to perform at the Coachella festival, after Chronixx in 2016.
In 2018, Toots and the Maytals launched a 50th anniversary tour with concert appearances in North America from April to August, moving to dates in the UK starting in October.
On July 25, 2018 Toots and the Maytals debuted an original song entitled "Marley" live on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and also played the classic "Funky Kingston".
On August 24, 2018 Toots and the Maytals performed at Lockn’ Festival in Arrington, Virginia, where guest Taj Mahal accompanied them on the song “Monkey Man”.
Frontman "Toots" Hibbert died on 12 September 2020.
It's You
Toots and The Maytals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah yeah, it's you, it's you
And I got to say...
(yeah) Aya, aya (x4)
Hey little girl, do you love me?
Oh baby, don't you know that I love you?
(yeah yeah) Come on now hear what I say
(yeah) Aya, aya (x4)
Hey little girl, do you love me?
Ohhhh I'm a lonely boy looking for the love of my heart
Don't you know baby, it's you that I'm talking to love?
(It's You) And I got to say
(yeah) Aya, aya (x4)
Hey little girl, do you love me?
Toots and The Maytals's song It's You is a classic love song infused with reggae beats that express the desire of the singer to find the love that he seeks. The lyrics of the song are simple but heartfelt, particularly in the verses where the singer asks the question, "Hey little girl, do you love me?" The chorus "It's you" delivers a clear message to the object of the singer's affection that she is the one he desires.
Throughout the song, the singer speaks in a direct and honest tone about his hopes and dreams for a love that will last. The repetition of the phrase "It's you" reinforces the idea that the subject of the singer's affection is the one he has been waiting for. The phrase "Aya, aya" punctuates the song and adds to the upbeat quality of the melody.
Overall, It's You is a heartfelt and uplifting love song that captures the essence of the reggae genre. Its catchy melody and lyrics encourage the listener to sing and dance along, creating a shared experience of love and happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
It's you (x4)
The singer repeatedly proclaims that the person he is speaking to is the one he loves.
Yeah yeah, it's you, it's you
The singer confirms to his love that it is indeed her who he is referring to.
And I got to say...
The singer is emphasizing the importance of his message.
(yeah) Aya, aya (x4)
The singer uses a repetitive vocalization to express his excitement and passion.
Hey little girl, do you love me?
The singer is directly asking his love if she reciprocates his feelings.
Oh baby, don't you know that I love you?
The singer reminds his love that he is deeply in love with her.
(yeah yeah) Come on now hear what I say
The singer urges his love to pay attention to his message.
(It's You, It's You) And I got to say
The singer reiterates that his message is specifically for his love.
(yeah) Aya, aya (x4)
The singer continues to express his excitement through vocalization.
Ohhhh I'm a lonely boy looking for the love of my heart
The singer reveals that he is searching for the one person who will truly love him.
Don't you know baby, it's you that I'm talking to love?
The singer confirms to his love that his message is meant for her specifically.
(It's You) And I got to say
The singer once again emphasizes the importance of his message, which is about his love for his partner.
(yeah) Aya, aya (x4)
The singer continues to express his excitement through vocalization.
Hey little girl, do you love me?
The singer repeats his direct question to his love.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FREDERICK HIBBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lucio Rozendo
It's You
É você, é você, é você, é você
yeah, yeah, é você, é você
Eu tenho a dizer hey
hey hey hey hey
hey menina, tu amas-me?
Oh baby você não sabe que eu te amo
vamos lá, vamos lá, você ouve o que eu digo
Eu tenho a dizer hey
hey hey hey hey
hey menina, tu amas-me?
Eu sou um garoto solitário procurando amor da minha própria
yeah yeah, você não sabe é você que eu estou falando com
Eu tenho a dizer hey
hey hey hey hey
hey menina, tu amas-me?
It's You
It's you, it's you, it's you, it's you
yeah, yeah, it's you, it's you
I've got to say hey
hey hey hey hey
hey little girl, do you love me?
Oh baby don't you know that I love you
come on, come on, you hear what I say
I've got to say hey
hey hey hey hey
hey little girl, do you love me?
I'm a lonely boy looking for love of my own
yeah yeah, don't you know it's you I'm talking to
I've got to say hey
hey hey hey hey
hey little girl, do you love me?
Robert Comeau
Rest in Peace, Toots. A true great, who brought joy to millions. His music will keep doing so forever.
Louis Green
Mr great
Eli Haynes
Do you know he was referred to as Jamaica Otis Redding but to me Redding was America Toots Hibbert
Robert Comeau
@Eli Haynes Well said!
Colin Clarke
Had the privilege to see toots in concert at the Marlowe in Canterbury September 2016.. front row . Shook his hand...rip toots
Pierrig
@Eli HaynesActually Ken Boothe was referred to as the Jamaican Otis Redding
ShadSoUnderrated
Cant stop listening to this masterpiece. Rest in Peace Toots.
Cynthia Archibald
Me too.
Chuffpup
R.I.P. Toots, farewell from your many fans in New Zealand. His music lives on...
Vee Sonnets
Rest in peace Toots.
Wonderful song.